Ohio (2-7) lost all of its matches this weekend at the Beavercreek Invitational. Ohio played Ohio State (2-4), Pitt (7-2), and Wright State (5-3). It was not able to win a single set in what was a disappointing performance from this Ohio team. Ohio only eclipsed 20 points in one set out of the nine it played, which was the final one against Ohio State.
Ohio State was first for Ohio’s games in the Beavercreek Invitational, and it didn’t start well. Ohio and Ohio State remained evenly matched until around the 10-point mark, where a spark lit in Ohio State, and it ripped off a huge 6-point run to take the lead 16-10. Ohio answered back with a point off an attack error, but Ohio State quickly ran up three more points to make the score 19-11. Ohio State didn’t let off the gas and comfortably took the set with a score of 25-16.
The second set ended better for Ohio, despite it being a loss. The game was tightly contested until the end as Ohio was only down by one point with the score being 18-17. In the final scores of the game, though, Ohio State had five kills to put away Ohio for good, taking the set and going up 2-0.
Ohio put up a valiant effort in the final set. The teams traded many blows, and Ohio even had the lead at multiple points throughout the game. It just couldn’t close it, though, as the final three points were all scored by Ohio State. Ohio held match point with a score of 24-23, but Ohio State was able to answer back and not falter, leading to the victory going to Ohio State. Despite losing 3-0, Ohio had some momentum going into the Pitt game, as it played well in that third set.
That momentum didn’t last long as Pitt put up an onslaught of points late in the first set after having a slight lead for most of it. Pitt's offense was firing on all cylinders, and Ohio wasn’t able to match it, leading to a 25-16 victory for Pitt. Things wouldn’t get much better for Ohio, as the second set was much of the same story, with Pitt closing out the game well and Ohio once again struggling to get past the 20-point mark, which will be a recurring theme through the rest of its tournament play.
The third set was by far the worst of Ohio’s play in the Pitt game, as the defense completely fell apart, letting Pitt outscore it 25-12, not even hitting over half of the points Pitt scored. Many sloppy plays on Ohio’s part led to points for Pitt. Pitt was easily able to close out this game and sweep Ohio with three sets won.
Ohio played Wright State next and continued to struggle. In the first set against Wright State, Ohio only put up 13 points. At one point, the score was 19-5 with Wright State continuing to pile on points. Ohio lost the first set but didn’t do much better in the second set.
Wright State opened up the second set with three unanswered points, keeping the momentum it had from the first set. Wright State would eventually build this lead up to nine points, with Ohio having any chance at a comeback completely snuffed out. Wright State coasted to a victory in this set, with the score being 25-16.
The third set was much of the same story, as Wright State continued to pound on Ohio and jumped out to a 6-0 lead. Ohio seemed defeated, and this early lead was all Wright State needed to take the set. The teams traded scoring runs, but Ohio was already in such a big hole that the game wasn’t close. Wright State would take this set and sweep Ohio. Ohio failed to score 20 points in its past two games, a scary realization for the team.
Putting these losses behind itself, Ohio travels to Charlotte to play in the Charlotte Invitational. It looks to get back on track with some wins in what has been a very rough road trip for the team.
